Event Title

Presenter Information

Mentor 1

Toivo Kallas

Location

Union Wisconsin Room

Start Date

24-4-2015 2:30 PM

End Date

24-4-2015 3:45 PM

Description

Cyanobacteria are a group of bacteria that obtain energy from sunlight, produce large amounts of oxygen, and consume atmospheric carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Our group has engineered Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 cyanobacteria to produce isoprene, which is a precursor for synthetic rubber as well as biofuels for transportation. However, the production of isoprene is not yet sufficient for commercial purposes and thus our goal is to increase isoprene synthesis in these bacteria. One way to do this is by shutting down competing pathways that utilize carbon such as the pathway for sucrose synthesis. Toward this goal, we are working to inactivate a sucrose synthase gene, spsA, for an essential enzyme in the sucrose synthesis pathway and determine whether this will increase isoprene production in cyanobacteria. To date, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to generate the DNA fragments needed to inactivate the spsA gene. A procedure called ‘Gibson Assembly’ will be used to assemble these pieces into a genetic construct for inactivating the spsA gene, and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry will be used to measure isoprene production in the engineered cyanobacteria. If successful, the project will be important for developing cyanobacterial strains that use sunlight energy to capture CO2 and convert this into high-value isoprenoid, hydrocarbon chemicals.This was important as a starting point to inactivate a sucrose synthase gene, spsA, for an essential enzyme in the sucrose synthesis pathway. If successful, the project will be important for developing cyanobacterial strains that can use sunlight energy to capture CO2 and convert this into high-value isoprenoid, hydrocarbon chemicals.

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Apr 24th, 2:30 PMApr 24th, 3:45 PM

Inactivation of Sucrose Synthesis in the Cynobacteriam Synechococcus PCC 7002 for Increased Production of Isoprenoid Hydrocarbons

Union Wisconsin Room

Cyanobacteria are a group of bacteria that obtain energy from sunlight, produce large amounts of oxygen, and consume atmospheric carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Our group has engineered Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 cyanobacteria to produce isoprene, which is a precursor for synthetic rubber as well as biofuels for transportation. However, the production of isoprene is not yet sufficient for commercial purposes and thus our goal is to increase isoprene synthesis in these bacteria. One way to do this is by shutting down competing pathways that utilize carbon such as the pathway for sucrose synthesis. Toward this goal, we are working to inactivate a sucrose synthase gene, spsA, for an essential enzyme in the sucrose synthesis pathway and determine whether this will increase isoprene production in cyanobacteria. To date, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to generate the DNA fragments needed to inactivate the spsA gene. A procedure called ‘Gibson Assembly’ will be used to assemble these pieces into a genetic construct for inactivating the spsA gene, and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry will be used to measure isoprene production in the engineered cyanobacteria. If successful, the project will be important for developing cyanobacterial strains that use sunlight energy to capture CO2 and convert this into high-value isoprenoid, hydrocarbon chemicals.This was important as a starting point to inactivate a sucrose synthase gene, spsA, for an essential enzyme in the sucrose synthesis pathway. If successful, the project will be important for developing cyanobacterial strains that can use sunlight energy to capture CO2 and convert this into high-value isoprenoid, hydrocarbon chemicals.